Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 84289 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84289 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Niko shrugs. “It’s okay. I’ll kick Ollie to the couch and steal his bed if I ever need some space.”
Noah laughs. “Solid plan. How’s Crimson handling your classes, since you’re starting late in the semester?”
“There are a couple of accelerated courses that start this week. They’re usually meant for a foreign exchange program, but they’re letting me in.”
“Banger,” Noah says, taking a sip from a smoothie.
“Need to grab napkins. You guys need anything?” Niko asks.
“All good.”
Niko gets up and heads over toward the center of the dining hall.
“Fuck,” Noah says when Niko’s out of earshot. “He looks like he should be in a pinup calendar for 12 Months of Hot Edgy Boys.”
“He’s always been like that.”
“I like him, even if he’s like a black cat that’s about to hiss. You going to fuck him, Ollie?”
“You have such a one-track mind.”
“You’re the fuck machine. Well, I guess I am too. Maybe I’ll fuck him.”
A flare of possessiveness hits my blood, even though Niko’s not really mine at all.
“No. You do not want to do that, I promise you,” I tell him.
A buzzing sound comes from the tabletop.
Noah’s eyes glance downward to Niko’s phone, which is still in the center of the table.
When I look down I see that two direct messages just popped up on the screen, both in response to the photo he just posted.
One is from someone called “Michelle Nightclub.”
Michelle Nightclub: Cute. You going to be back in town soon? Check the new jewelry I got. Come play with it.
Below it is a small preview of the image she attached. It’s a naked pic of a very cute redhead who I assume is Michelle.
Her pierced tits are the main focus in the photo, and she’s clearly trying to show Niko the new nipple jewelry she just put in.
Damn.
Your fuckboy reputation gets you a lot more interesting texts than my reputation ever does.
But the other text is worse.
It’s from Callum, Niko’s ex.
Callum: Why is the AmEx credit card being declined? Did you change the PIN?
Send me that PIN. I don’t want to come to Crimson College, but I will be forced to if you keep ignoring me.
And who’s that in the pic? New guy for you to fuck before you disappear on him like you did to me? This is why no one takes you seriously. Come back home.
My stomach turns.
I don’t know the details about Niko’s ex, but he always seemed controlling and manipulative, even just from seeing him post on Niko’s photos. Reading that text message confirms it.
Is that what Niko had to deal with?
Or was it actually much worse than that, in person?
“Something tells me we weren’t supposed to see those texts,” Noah says.
“No shit.”
A few moments later Niko returns to the table, his eyes landing on the lit-up phone right away. He just slides the phone over and shoves it into his pocket, keeping his eyes downcast at his food, not saying a word about it.
I’m mortified.
But luckily Noah’s able to smooth things over without missing a beat.
“Bro, the winter formal is going to hit this year,” Noah tells me. “Did Weston tell you guys that we’re hiring full catering and a live band?”
Over the next ten minutes, Noah tells me more plans he has for the party and Niko doesn’t even look up from his plate. Noah asks him a few questions, like if he enjoyed parties in high school or if he ever travels anywhere for Christmas, but Niko gives short, polite answers.
He finishes quickly, then finally stands up with his tray. “See you later, Noah. Ollie, can you show me where to put this tray?”
“Oh, it’s right over there,” Noah starts to say, but Niko ignores him, just staring down at me and waiting for me to move.
It takes a moment for me to get the hint.
Niko doesn’t need help with the tray.
He just wants me alone.
I stand up and quickly walk through the crowded dining hall with him. “Dude, Noah could tell there was something weird back there. Why did you make me do that?”
“Because I wanted an answer from you,” Niko tells me, putting his tray in the stack. “Would you rather I ask my question in front of Noah? Hey, Oliver, you going to come back after this and let me film you coming all over yourself for me?”
There’s a group of girls walking right behind us and one of them turns, giving us a look. Luckily they just keep walking.
“Can you keep your voice down for one fucking second? No. I have Econ class after this.”
Niko just gives me a curt nod. “K.”
Something deflates inside me at his short answer. He doesn’t get upset or demanding like I expected.
Did I actually want him to punish me for saying no?
I clear my throat, glancing to one side then back at him. “It would have to be later tonight.”